Blusher, a band whose name originated from a serendipitous journal entry, embodies a vibrant and emotionally rich musical identity. As the members—Jade, Miranda, and Lauren—reveal the name “Blusher” resonates deeply with their collective sentiment of wearing their hearts on their sleeves, capturing moments of intense emotion and vulnerability. Their sound, described as “sparkly, gritty, euphoric, dancey pop,” navigates the emotional landscapes from the ecstatic dance floors to solitary bedroom tears, mirroring the band’s diverse personalities and tight-knit friendship. Through their music, Blusher aims to convey the profound significance of friendship, especially among women, and to empower listeners to embrace their most confident, chaotic selves. Their creative process, fueled by caffeine and sisterhood, is a testament to their dynamic and collaborative spirit, promising a spectrum of powerful and dreamy moments in their evolving musical career.

Rival: So, let's jump right in. Tell us about the formation of Blusher and how you all met.

LAUREN: We were all solo artists before this project started and knew each other through the Australian music industry. I met Jade through a songwriting camp online over Zoom during lockdown, and I had worked with Miranda in her band before. I invited them to a cafe one day and said, "This is your life now." So, we came together quite organically, and when we wrote that first song, we were like, "Wait, this could be something."

RIVAL: What inspired the name Blusher? Is there a story behind that?

JADE: It's actually a title that I wrote down in a notebook as a potential song idea. We started developing the band around the time we started writing that song. We came up with a few band name ideas during that time, some of which were terrible. But as we were looking through our journals, we all paused and agreed, 'Wait, this one makes so much sense, Blusher. I think it's such a visual word, and it means so many things to us. It encapsulates that feeling of wearing your heart on your sleeve. You know, when you have strong reactions of either love, getting a bit flustered, or those times when your emotions reveal themselves and sit there on the surface.

RIVAL: It's beautiful, and I think it fits you guys a lot. How would you describe your musical style to a new fan?

MIRANDA: That's a great question. I would describe it as sparkly, gritty, euphoric, dancey pop for 2 am at the club or for crying in your bedroom by yourself. It encapsulates a range of emotions and reflects a blend of our three distinct personalities translated into music.

RIVAL: It's not easy, but you guys have found a way to blend everyone’s voice to create a unified sound. It shows how connected you are to one another.

MIRANDA: Thank you. Lauren put it perfectly the other day, "You're really just hearing our friendship come through in the songs," and that is so true.

RIVAL: When creating these fantastic songs, can you walk us through your typical songwriting and recording process?

LAUREN: We tend to do things differently each time, but there's a loose structure that generally involves a lot of caffeine and an international flight in the middle. It usually starts with one of us sharing a story or something going on in our lives at the time. With our latest single, "Over the Globe," we brought a lot of fun energy into the studio that day. I began by singing random sounds into the microphone and creating a production bed. Then the girls came in, and Jade sang that incredible chorus melody, which was a turning point in the session and gave us that 'aha!' moment. We started touring while recording that song, so Miranda recorded the bass backstage. The songs kind of travel all over the world with us. It's really cool to see them evolve from that first day and that initial exciting feeling into something tangible and refined."

MIRANDA: I feel like our process is unique because there are three of us, and we are all equal songwriters. We like to contribute to both the lyrics and the melody. It’s a unique configuration because sometimes, one of us will start singing a melody, and another person's melody will be mixed in. It's like all three of our brains are working as one to create these melodies together.

RIVAL: Do you have specific themes or messages that you aim to convey through your music?

JADE: We want our music to feel like your best friend telling you a secret. We want to convey how powerful and important friendship, especially female friendship, is. We also want people to feel their most empowered, confident, and chaotic selves when they listen to our music. Hopefully, it inspires you to go out and make a bold move, like confessing your love to a crush.

LAUREN: I think something that we've discussed, both musically and lyrically, as well as in our live performances, is having a mix of powerful, hard-hitting, distorted moments and beautiful, dreamy, glittery moments. It's about expressing the idea that female emotion is complex and has many layers and depths. We look forward to showcasing this emotional spectrum more in our future work.

RIVAL: Let's discuss one of your latest song releases, “24 Hours in Paris”.

MIRANDA: "24 Hours in Paris" was a real musical departure for us compared to our previous single, "Accelerator." We love showcasing our range because we have so many different influences and emotions among us. While making this song, we discovered we had booked a show in Paris, a dream come true. It was a chaotic whirlwind of a time, and when we went into the studio right after finding out, the song was infused with the rush and chaos of life. We discussed all our real-life experiences during that time, and it was a truly cathartic moment in the studio, which I believe you can hear in the music.

RIVAL: What have been some of the most rewarding moments in your career so far?

JADE: Well, we just finished our first US tour, which was a massive moment for us. On the last night of the tour, we performed in Texas, and it was just a big celebration. We gave so much of ourselves physically and emotionally during this intense period of our lives, from being in a van every day to being on stage every night and experiencing that high and meeting all of these new fans after the shows. I think that whole experience was really wild and mind-blowing for us.

MIRANDA: Recently, after playing some shows in Australia, a fan approached us and said we were the first female-fronted band they had ever seen live. It was a pinch-me moment. It's incredibly rewarding when people express that we inspire them or want to pursue music because they have seen women like us showing them it's possible.

JADE: Oh, and seeing people singing our lyrics for the first time! LAUREN: Some of my favorite moments are the small ones in the studio when one of the other girls is fully immersed in her creative energy and vulnerability. Traveling together is special, too. For example, on our first tour of the UK, I remember one day in Cardiff when we were walking around the castle, and it started snowing during the Christmas markets. Stopping and appreciating how far we've come was a beautiful moment. It feels surreal to see such a big, seemingly delusional dream actually come true. I'm currently staying at my parents' place, where I've kept all my old journals filled with dreams that are now becoming reality. I remember wanting and wishing for all this so badly that it's surreal to think about now.

RIVAL: Do you have any funny or embarrassing stories from your time in the band?

LAUREN: The first time we went on a red carpet and experienced a really luxurious party, we all fell down a staircase, individually, at different times within a 12-hour period. I think that's an important one for the books. MIRANDA: Somebody got us to sign a Pokémon card the other day. That was pretty interesting.

RIVAL: Did it have y’all’s face on it, or was it an actual Pokémon card?

LAUREN: Right, what was it? A dragon or something? MIRANDA: I can't remember the card, haha. RIVAL: It'd be cool if it were a custom-made Blusher one. JADE: Oooh, what would that look like? MIRANDA: Three-headed. We have signed some pretty wacky stuff like people's bald heads, but this one time on tour in the States, this guy asked us to sign his passport. That was crazy. I was like, ‘Are you sure? Will that affect your ability to travel? Are you sure?’. And he was like, ‘Yes! Just do it!’ And I was like, ‘All right. Sorry if you get like trapped in the country.’

RIVAL: How do you all prepare for a live show?

JADE: Before the show, we work on warming our bodies with crazy exercises. Getting our muscles ready to support our voices is essential since the show is physically demanding. We listen to music that hypes us, whether musical theater or a club mix. We also prepare a lot of manuka honey, lemon, tea, and steam. LAUREN: Before we go on stage, we'll also do a ‘Yee-Haw!’ MIRANDA: Yes! This is to remind us to have cowboy energy while on stage!

RIVAL: What are your thoughts on the current music industry landscape? Especially for new artists?

JADE: I think women and pop music are currently dominating, and it's fantastic to see artists like Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, and other mega-women in the industry doing so well.

LAUREN: It's an exciting time for pop music because there isn't a set structure for what a pop song needs to be. There's a lot more experimentation happening now, and various types of music can gain recognition through social media. It's really exciting to see pop as a space without limitations.

MIRANDA: I feel that nowadays, artists have access to technology that gives them more control over their creative vision. For example, you can learn music production on YouTube or design a logo yourself. When we started the band, we created our logo ourselves, even though I didn't know how. Traditionally, pop music has required big budgets and tremendous efforts, but now people have more agency and control over their creative vision. This makes it very empowering for people to express their creativity.

RIVAL: How do you leverage social media and digital platforms to connect with fans?

MIRANDA: I feel like it's constantly evolving, and you're always figuring out where your head is and how you want to communicate with people. But it's such a cool and helpful tool to connect with people by getting on social media, being a bit silly, and just being ourselves. It's basically impossible for us to filter ourselves, even if we try, and that's how we like to relate to people. It's really lovely to get DMs from people telling us that they enjoy listening to the music or what the songs mean to them. We always sit there and read through them all, and it just means a lot to us to hear from the fans.

RIVAL: What does the rest of the year look like for Blusher?

JADE: We have some awesome visuals coming out for our next singles. We also have some live shows in the UK, including performances at Latitude and Pride and our first headline show in London. In addition, we have been working on some remixes - we're remixing our music and working in the studio on new material. We have a hectic and exciting year ahead!

As Blusher reflects on their journey, it becomes evident that the bond between Jade, Miranda, and Lauren transcends music. It is rooted in cherished memories and shared experiences. Whether in the intimate moments of the studio or while exploring new cities together, these instances highlight their profound connection and appreciation for their collective growth. Their stories are brimming with authenticity, humor, and genuine surprise at their escalating fame. Looking ahead to an exciting year of releases and performances, it's undeniable that the trio is a dominant force in the resurging pop music scene—a testament to their friendship, resilience, and unfiltered approach to music and life.